Moral issues had a far stronger hold on society e.g. pre marital sex was virtually unheard of, they took sexual activities very seriously. Now day’s pre-marital sex marital sex is far more common than in the post, and often people have sex on a regular basis. As time as gone by sex is more talked about there for society has changed.
Young girls in the pre-nineteenth century were usually married by the time they were in there early 20’s, you can see this in Jane Austin’s book Pride and Prejudice as the Bennett family were getting married at a very young age e.g. early 20’s or even younger (Lydia and Wickham). Today it is up to the individual when they decide to get married. There isn’t really a set age, as long as it is legal for the couple to get married. However they’re probably a lot of girls that are married in their early twenties, in the post-nineteenth century. In the pre nineteenth century if you had not secured a husband by her mid twenties she risked being a spinster or “ old maid.” That is why Mrs Bennett was scared if her children were not married off so she was fussy and stuck her nose in her daughters relationships These days people enjoy themselves before they get married.
Women were often stigmatised if they could not secure themselves a husband. This would in many cases lead to feelings of inadequacy. These day’s people are equal and there is no rush to get married.
Beauty, refinement, politeness and obedience were some of the characteristics that were considered to make a good wife. Women were expected to be accomplished in areas such as music, sewing, reading etc. Today different sexes are expected to be both equals.
It was automatically presumed that couples would have children. Contraception and abortion was not an option in Jane Austin’s time. In pre-nineteenth everyone is using contraception and having abortions for unwanted babies.
Usually courting did not last very long before a marriage proposal was made. This is why Lydia and Wickham got married because they were having sex and to clear the family Bennett name they had to get married.
Couples would enter a relation ship knowing that marriage was “till death do us part”. A sacred vow was made before god.
In the pre nineteenth century class and wealth played an important part in the union of two people. The upper class wanted keep the status quo and holds the class structures in place. This wasn’t the case for Mr Darcy as he fell for Elizabeth Bennett but she didn’t fall for him straight away as he was arrogant but in a way so was Elizabeth and they were both quick to judge. But this was not the first person to offer to marry Elizabeth at first it was Mr Collins but she refused straight away he feels he is doing the Bennett a favour by proposing to Elizabeth but his really not. The first person he offered to marry him was Jane but she is already in love with Mr Bingly so then he proposed to Charlotte Lucas and she accepted as she was afraid she would be left on the shelf and no one would marry her so she offered.
